Cell Phones in the Classroom: Harness the Power for Learning


Introduction of Presenters:
Kim Guffey - Haywood County Schools, Waynesville, NC kguffey@haywood.k12.nc.us
David Rose - Southfield Public Schools, Southfield, MI rosed@southfield.k12.mi.us


Today's 21st century learners already use technology in creative and innovative ways as they explore new tools to help them gain fast access to information and each other. Nearly two-thirds of teens and one-third of tweens (ages 8-12) own a cell phone, sending over 250,000 text messages and spending thousands of hours talking, sharing, and collaborating with this forbidden classroom technology.

In this session, participants will explore powerful ways cell phones can be used constructively for educational purposes as they actively engage in the use of cell phones to research, collaborate, evaluate, and communicate within the content area. As educators, we can embrace this technology, that our students have already mastered, and use it as a way to present curriculum and change teaching and learning. We will concentrate on four specific resources and how to get started using these tools.

Activity 1: Personal Response System
What is the cell phone policy for your school?
To vote: text 99503 with the number that correlates to your answer
(13602) complete ban
(13603) ban during instructional hours
(13604) can be used anytime
(13601) no idea
www.polleverywhere.com
Using polleverywhere to vote without a cell phone.

Updated AUP with Cell Phone Need Addressed

Project K-nect
New York Times Article (Industry Research in NC)


Activity 2: Gathering Data in Real Time
Text one of your contacts the following question: What is the current temperature outside?
Compare the results using Google Docs.


Activity 3: Podcasting
www.gcast.com

888-65G-CAST
Code
Record

  1. to stop
  2. to publish

My Gcast link: www.gcast.com/u/spspodcast/main


Activity 4: Other Uses
Using Google to Search:

Text 466453 (Google) and ask your question. Google will text you a response.
Examples: weather Raleigh NC; movies 28405
SMS Translation Help

Google 411:
Dial 1-800-466-4411 (1-800-GOOG-411).
Speak the name of the business, city, and state of the location you wish to dial.
Choose the correct business and GOOG-411 will connect you.

Articles & References:
Liz Kolb Site
Educational Uses for Cell Phones(Nebraska)
Students Turn Their Cellphones On for Classroom Lessons Education Week January 2009
//What Can You Learn From A Cell Phone? – Almost Anything!// How to use the 1.5 billion computers already in our students’ and trainees’ pockets to increase learning, at home and around the world By Marc Prensky (pdf)
Toys to Tools: Connecting Student Cell Phones to Education(ISTE Publication)
The Mobile Learner


Questions:
Text 19574 and your message to 99503
Live Text Poll
Text questions to the presenters which will be answered on the wiki.

The future is here.